Ye Guan was utterly speechless at the little girl's antics. She was a bit of a joker.

After peeling a lobster, Long Dai handed it to Ye Guan with a faint smile, "Master, have some."

Ye Guan smiled, took the lobster, and bit into it.

The meat was tender and delicious.

Long Dai peeled one for herself, took a big bite, and said, "Master, Sword Manipulation is really incredible. When I went to the Guanxuan Academy, I realized that their teachings aren't as good as yours."

"I came to find you because I need your help with something."

"Just tell me, Master."

Ye Guan handed her two letters and said, "I need you to deliver these to the Guanxuan Universe."

Long Dai looked at Ye Guan, surprised, "The Guanxuan Universe?"

Ye Guan nodded.

Putting down her lobster, Long Dai glanced at the letters and asked, "Can I see what's inside?"

Ye Guan nodded. "Sure."

Long Dai picked up one of the letters and looked at him again. "Really?"

"Yes."

Seeing that Ye Guan wasn't angry at her, Long Dai was about to tear open the envelope, but she ended up hesitating. After a moment of silence, she placed it back on the table.

“What's wrong?"

Long Dai shook her head. "I won't look."

"Why?"

Long Dai looked at him but said nothing.

"Read it first, then decide if you can help me or not."

Long Dai shook her head again, saying, "No matter what it is, I'll help you, Master."

With that, she put the envelope away.

Ye Guan added, "This could be dangerous."

"Will it be life-threatening?"

"Yes."

Long Dai's smile faded, realizing that Ye Guan wasn't joking.

Ye Guan continued, "That's why you can read the letters first and decide afterward. Even if you choose not to help, I won't blame you."

Long Dai shook her head again. "Master, no need to read them."

"Alright."

"Let's eat."

"Go now."

"Is it so urgent?" asked Long Dai.

Ye Guan nodded.

"And don't let anyone know."

Long Dai finally realized that this was no simple task. She hesitated, realizing that this could be far bigger than she thought.

Just as Ye Guan was about to speak, Long Dai declared, "I'll go there personally."

With that, she stood up to leave.

Ye Guan reminded her, "Make sure to deliver the letters to the designated people."

Long Dai nodded."Understood."

She quickly disappeared into the distance.

Little Pagoda suddenly said,

"The academy still has many issues."

"That's to be expected. The academy has grown so quickly, and I've been focused elsewhere. It's already a miracle it hasn't completely fallen apart yet."

Little Pagoda commented,

"You should be stricter."

Ye Guan agreed.

"It's time to be really strict."

He packed the food on the table into his storage ring and left.

He had to find Zang Gang!

Leaving the girl out there alone was too dangerous.

When he exited the Immortal Treasures Pavilion, dozens of terrifying auras converged on him, and a young man soon appeared before him.

Chen Yitian!

Ye Guan frowned.

Chen Yitian smiled coldly, "Yang Ta, we meet again."

Ye Guan calmly asked, "What is it?"

"Shall we talk somewhere else?" Chen Yitian's smile faded.

Ye Guan retreated into the Immortal Treasures Pavilion.

The pavilion had a strict rule—no fighting inside.

Seeing Ye Guan's actions, Chen Yitian laughed mockingly, "Yang Ta, do you think you're safe just because you're in the pavilion? How naive."

Just as he prepared to attack, the manager of the pavilion—the same one who had served Ye Guan and Long Dai earlier—stepped forward.

Seeing the manager, Chen Yitian frowned. "Manager Li."

Manager Li said coldly, "Chen Yitian, this is the Immortal Treasures Pavilion. Starting a fight here is highly inappropriate, don't you think?"

Chen Yitian forced a smile. "Manager Li, this person killed Academy Chief Zhou and is wanted. According to protocol, Immortal Treasures Pavillion should assist in his capture."

Manager Li glanced at Ye Guan before turning back to Chen Yitian, "The Immortal Treasures Pavilion's rules state that all guests are under our protection."

Chen Yitian's face darkened. "Manager Li, what are you doing?"

Manager Li narrowed his eyes, "Are you questioning me, Young Master Chen?"

Chen Yitian was taken aback. This was the manager of the Immortal Treasures Pavilion, not someone his clan could easily provoke.

After a moment, Chen Yitian forced a smile. "My apologies for any offense."

Manager Li ignored him and turned to Ye Guan, "Let's talk inside."

With that, he led Ye Guan deeper into the Immortal Treasures Pavillion.

Chen Yitian's expression turned grim as he whispered to an elderly man beside him, "Inform Master Zhou Ling."

The elder bowed and left quietly.

Inside the pavilion, Manager Li studied Ye Guan. "What's your name?"

"Yang Ta," Ye Guan replied.

Manager Li's voice was heavy as he spoke. "Young Master Yang, the fact that you were able to kill Academy Chief Zhou proves you are no ordinary person. I don't know why you did it..."

Ye Guan cut him off, his tone cold and direct. "Academy Chief Zhou and the Chen Clan blatantly violated the Guanxuan Laws. They wanted to wipe out billions of lives on the Abandoned Continent below. They deserved to die."

Manager Li's heart skipped a beat, but his face stayed calm. "You..."

Ye Guan's sharp gaze pinned him in place. "It seems you weren't involved, but judging by your expression, you know what they were planning."

Manager Li hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "I know."

"Then why didn't you report it?" Ye Guan asked.

Manager Li shook his head slowly. "Young Master Yang, the Immortal Treasures Pavilion only manages trade. Governing the universe is the business of the Guanxuan Academy. It has nothing to do with us."

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Ye Guan fell silent, his expression unreadable.

Manager Li continued, his voice quiet but firm. "Young Master Yang, Academy Chief Zhou was no ordinary man. His background is immense. You cannot face them directly. You should leave through the back door while you still can."

Ye Guan fixed him with a piercing look. "Why are you helping me?"

Manager Li took a deep breath before replying. "I don't know your true identity, but I understand one thing—you killed Academy Chief Zhou to save the lives on that continent.

"That alone earns my respect. But forgive me, I can't do more. Though I am a manager of the Immortal Treasures Pavilion, the academy's waters run deep, and their power is vast. I have a family to protect. I cannot afford to get involved."

Ye Guan gave a small nod. "I understand."

Manager Li looked at him seriously. "If you truly want to save those people, there is only one way. Go to the Main Guanxuan Academy and expose the truth, but let me warn you, without any strong backers, you won't even make it to the academy gates. Forget the forces behind Academy Chief Zhou—just the Chen Clan alone can erase you without leaving a trace."

Ye Guan's brows furrowed.

"There is one other way," Manager Li added after a pause.

Ye Guan turned to him. "What is it?"

Manager Li's voice grew even lower. "Go to the statue of the Academy Master and plead your case. The Academy Master's power is unmatched; he might sense you. If he intervenes, even if only an avatar of his appears, this matter could be resolved."

Ye Guan's lips twitched slightly as if suppressing a bitter laugh. "Any other ideas?"

Manager Li shook his head. "None."

Ye Guan sighed inwardly, feeling a faint frustration building in his chest.

Manager Li let out a soft sigh. "Young Master Yang, to be honest, I despise much of what happens in this world. But no matter how much we hate it, we're often powerless. If this were the me of the past, I might have risked everything to help you reach the main academy. But now... I'm sorry. If I do that, it won't just cost me my life. It might cost my family theirs as well."

Ye Guan looked at him for a long moment. "You've already done enough."

With that, he turned and walked toward the back door.

"Wait," Manager Li called suddenly.

Ye Guan turned back. Manager Li reached into his robes and pulled out a jade pendant. "This can hide your aura. It will help you."

Ye Guan took it and nodded slightly. "Thank you."

Without another word, he tucked the pendant away and disappeared into the distance.

Moments after Ye Guan left, an overwhelming pressure suddenly descended on the Immortal Treasures Pavilion. The air itself seemed to thicken, carrying a suffocating weight.

Manager Li's face darkened. He stepped outside, his heart sinking when he saw the figure waiting there—Zhou Ling.

Manager Li forced a polite smile and cupped his hands. "Master Zhou Ling, it has been a long—"

"Where is Yang Ta?" Zhou Ling snapped, cutting him off.

Manager Li maintained his smile. "Young Master Yang? He has already left—"

"Insolence!" Zhou Ling's eyes narrowed sharply, and he stepped forward. A terrifying aura erupted from him, crashing down on Manager Li like a tidal wave. The sheer force left him gasping for breath, his body trembling under the weight.

Manager Li struggled to speak. "Master Zhou Ling, I am a manager of the Immortal Treasures Pavilion. Your actions—"

"Immortal Treasures Pavilion?" Zhou Ling sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "The pavilion is now under the control of my Great Zhou. You, a lowly manager, are nothing but a dog of the Great Zhou!"

With a flick of his sleeve, Zhou Ling barked an order. "Take him. Destroy his fleshly body and hang his soul outside the Heavenly Capital City. Let it burn slowly with the sun. Let the world see what happens to those who dare defy the Great Zhou!"